Milling cutter processing machine

ABSTRACT

A milling cutter processing machine includes a machine base, a cutting power unit mounted in the machine base, two workpiece feeders adapted to feed a respective workpiece to the cutting power unit for processing at the same time, two mechanical arms adapted to carry workpieces to the workpiece feeders, and two adjustment racks symmetrically mounted on the machine base at two sides and adapted to control the angle of elevation of the workpiece feeders and the mechanical arms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates a milling cutter processing machine and, more particularly, to such a milling cutter processing machine, which is designed to simultaneously process two workpieces.

[0002]FIG. 1 illustrates a milling cutter processing machine according to the prior art. This structure of milling cutter processing machine comprises a cutting power unit 1′, a workpiece feeder 2′ controlled to move the workpiece 3′ to the sand wheel 11′ of the cutting power unit 1′ for processing. The workpiece feeder 2′ can be controlled to move the workpiece 3′ in X-axis and Y-axis directions, as well as to rotate the workpiece 3′. This structure of milling cutter processing machine is functional. However this structure of milling cutter processing machine is less efficient because it can process only one workpiece at a time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention ahs been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a milling cutter processing machine, which is practical to process two workpieces at a time. According to one aspect of the present invention, the milling cutter processing machine comprises a machine base, a cutting power unit mounted in the machine base, two workpiece feeders adapted to feed a respective workpiece to the cutting power unit for processing at the same time, two mechanical arms adapted to carry workpieces to the workpiece feeders, and two adjustment racks symmetrically mounted on the machine base at two sides and adapted to control the angle of elevation of the workpiece feeders and the mechanical arms. According to another aspect of the present invention, the cutting power unit comprises a power drive fixedly mounted inside the machine base and kept from sight, and a sand wheel horizontally disposed above the machine base between the workpiece feeders and coupled to the power drive. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the adjustment racks are symmetrically mounted on the machine base at two sides, each comprising a substantially U-shaped base frame, a support frame pivoted to the machine base and adapted to support one workpiece feeder and one mechanical arm, and an angle of elevation adjusting mechanism connected between the support frame and the U-shaped base frame and adapted to adjust the angle of elevation of the U-shaped base frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a milling cutter processing machine according to the prior art.

[0005]FIG. 2 is en elevational view of a milling cutter processing machine according to the present invention.

[0006]FIG. 3 is a top view of the milling cutter processing machine according to the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 4 is an exploded view in an enlarged scale of a part of the present invention, showing the structure of the adjustment rack.

[0008]FIG. 5 is a sectional assembly view of FIG. 4.

[0009]FIG. 6 is an applied view of the present invention, showing two workpieces simultaneously fed to the sand wheel of the milling cutter processing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] Referring to FIGS. from 2 through 6, a milling cutter processing machine in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of a machine base 1, a cutting power unit 2, two adjustment racks 3, two workpiece feeders 4, and two mechanical arms 5.

[0011] The cutting power unit 2 comprises a power drive 21 mounted inside the machine base 1 and kept from sight, a sand wheel 22 horizontally disposed above the top center of the machine base 1 and coupled to the power drive 21 and adapted to cut two workpieces 7 at the same time.

[0012] The adjustment racks 3 are symmetrically mounted on the top sidewall of the machine base 1 at two sides, each comprising a substantially U-shaped base frame 31, a support frame 32, and an angle of elevation adjusting mechanism 33. The base frame 31 is fixedly fastened to the machine base 1, comprising two elongated, smoothly arched sliding slots 311 respectively longitudinally disposed in the two vertical sidewalls thereof, and a ball socket hole 312 through the horizontal top sidewall thereof. The support frame 32 is pivoted to the machine base 1. The front half of the support frame 32 supports one mechanical arm 5. The rear half of the support frame 32 supports one workpiece feeder 4, comprising two screw holes 323 bilaterally disposed near the rear side thereof and a U-shaped mounting plate 321 fixedly provided at the center of the rear side. The U-shaped mounting plate 321 has a ball socket hole 322 corresponding to the ball socket hole 312 of the base frame 31. The angle of elevation adjusting mechanism 33 comprises a headed adjustment screw 331, an acorn packing element 332, and a lock nut 333. The head of the headed adjustment screw 331 fits the ball socket hole 322 of the U-shaped mounting plate 321. The acorn packing element 332 fits the ball socket hole 312 of the U-shaped base frame 31. The headed adjustment screw 331 is inserted through the ball socket hole 322 of the U-shaped mounting plate 321 and the ball socket hole 312 of the U-shaped base frame 31 and the acorn packing element 332, and then screwed up with the lock nut 333, keeping the acorn packing element 332 engaged in the ball socket hole 312 of the U-shaped base frame 31 and the head of the adjustment screw 33 engaged in the ball socket hole 322 of the U-shaped mounting plate 321. When assembled, the support frame 32 can be turned relative to the base frame 31 to adjust its angle of elevation. After the support frame 32 has been turned to the desired angle of elevation, two lock screws 6 are respectively inserted through the smoothly arched sliding slots 311 and threaded into the screw holes 323 of the support frame 32 to fix the support frame 32 in position. Because the semispherical periphery of the acorn packing element 332 and the semispherical periphery of the head of the adjustment screw 331 fit the ball socket hole 312 of the U-shaped base frame 31 and the ball socket hole 322 of the U-shaped mounting plate 321 respectively, the support frame 32 can be smoothly adjusted to the desired angle of elevation after loosened the lock screws 6.

[0013] The workpiece feeders 4 each comprise a cross slide 41, a longitudinal slide 42, a chuck holder 43, and a rotary feeding unit 44. The cross slide 41 is mounted on the rear half of the support frame 32 of one adjustment rack 3, and controlled to adjust the position of the chuck holder 43 in transverse direction. The longitudinal slide 42 is mounted on the cross slide 41, and controlled to adjust the position of the chuck holder 43 in longitudinal direction. The chuck holder 43 is mounted on the longitudinal slide 42, comprising a chuck 431 adapted to hold one workpiece 7 for processing. The rotary feeding unit 44 is coupled to the chuck 431, and controlled to rotate the chuck 431 and the workpiece 7 in the chuck 431 for processing.

[0014] The mechanical arms 5 each comprise a longitudinal slide 51, a cross slide 52, a vertical slide 53, and a workpiece clamp 54. The mechanical arms 5 are controlled to carry a respective workpiece 7 to the chuck 431 of each of the workpiece feeders 4 for processing.

[0015] The aforesaid cutting power unit 2, workpiece feeders 4, and mechanical arms 5 are similar to conventional milling cutter processing machines. No further detailed description is necessary.

[0016] As indicated above, the milling cutter processing machine of the present invention comprises a base machine 1, a cutting power unit 2, the cutting power unit comprising a power drive 21 mounted inside the machine base 1 and kept from sight a sand wheel 22 horizontally suspended above the machine base 1, two workpiece feeders 4, two mechanical arms 5, and two adjustment racks 3 mounted on the machine base and symmetrically disposed at two sides and adapted to control the angle of elevation of the workpiece feeders 4 and the mechanical arms 5, enabling two workpieces 7 to be turned to the desired cutting angle against the sand wheel 22 of the cutting power unit 2.

[0017] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A milling cutter processing machine comprising a machine base, a cutting power unit mounted in said machine base, two workpiece feeders adapted to feed a respective workpiece to said cutting power unit for processing, said workpiece feeders each comprising a cross slide, a longitudinal slide, a chuck holder, and a rotary feeding unit, two mechanical arms adapted to carry workpieces to said workpiece feeders, said mechanical arms each comprising a longitudinal slide, a cross slide, a vertical slide, and a workpiece clamp, and two adjustment racks symmetrically mounted on said machine base at two sides and adapted to control the angle of elevation of said workpiece feeders and said mechanical arms, wherein: said cutting power unit comprises a power drive fixedly mounted inside said machine base and kept from sight, and a sand wheel horizontally disposed above said machine base between said workpiece feeders and coupled to said power drive; said adjustment racks are symmetrically mounted on said machine base at two sides, each comprising a substantially U-shaped base frame, a support frame pivoted to said machine base and adapted to support one workpiece feeder and one mechanical arm, and an angle of elevation adjusting mechanism connected between said support frame and said U-shaped base frame and adapted to adjust the angle of elevation of said U-shaped base frame.
 2. The milling cutter processing machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said U-shaped base frame comprises two elongated, smoothly arched sliding slots respectively longitudinally disposed in two vertical sidewalls thereof and a ball socket hole through a horizontal top sidewall thereof for the positioning of said angle of elevation adjusting mechanism.
 3. The milling cutter processing machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support frame comprises a U-shaped mounting plate fixedly provided at the center of a rear side thereof, said U-shaped mounting plate having a ball socket hole corresponding to the ball socket hole of said base frame for the mounting of said angle of elevation adjusting mechanism.
 4. The milling cutter processing machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support frame comprises two screw holes bilaterally disposed near a rear side thereof respectively fastened to the smoothly arched sliding slots of said U-shaped base frame by a respective lock screw.
 5. The milling cutter processing machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said angle of elevation adjusting mechanism comprises an acorn packing element fitted into the ball socket hole of said U-shaped base frame, a headed adjustment screw inserted through the ball socket hole of said U-shaped mounting plate and said acorn packing element, and a lock nut threaded onto said headed adjustment screw to secure said headed adjustment screw and said acorn packing element to said U-shaped base frame and said U-shaped mounting plate.
 6. The milling cutter processing machine of claim 1 wherein the head of said headed adjustment screw has a semispherical periphery fitting the ball socket hole of said U-shaped mounting plate, and said acorn packing nut has a semispherical periphery fitting the ball socket hole of said U-shaped base frame. 